Trolley construction for cranes



May 1'0, 1927., 1,627,746

G..E. MocRE TROLLEYv CONSTRUCTION FOR CRANES Filed May "8. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 O mvENToR ATTORNEY .may mmgi y y E. momsy l -1 1'621'446 N (QLLEY CONSTRUCTION FOR GRANES Filed May 8.` 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR l wang? ATTORNEY May 10A, 19.27.

'/ TROLLEY QOPISTRUCTLON FOR CRANBS med im a. 1924 s sheets-snee( 5 ATTORNEY Patented May 10, 1927. l

UNITED STATES PA'TENToFFIcE.

GEORGE EDWARD MOORE, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO MANNING, MAX- WELL @c MOORE, INC., F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TROLLEY CONSTRUCTION FOR CRANES.

Application filed May S, 1924. Serial No. 711,788.

This invention relates to improvements in struct-ion ot' my invention, the hoisting hoisting mechanism and particularly'in immechanism being removed for better disprovements in the trolley construction used closure ot' the trolley. y a5 in travelling cranes. In cranes ot' this type Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken .substanmany times it is desirable that the trolley tially on the plane ot' line 2 2, ot.Fig. l and shall carry ar turn-table mounted to turn looking in the direction indicated by the arabout a vertical axis. The cranes are derows, the showing of the beam and attached signed to carry heavy loads amounting at pulley blocks in dotted lines indicating the times to hundreds o't` tons, this requiring same swung to a position at right angles to l" that the construction be exceptionally strong the iull line position. appearing in the figand Well fabricated. The designer of such ure. cranes has to use the saine in limited space, Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of one of requiring that the head room tor the trolthe trugk members of the construction, tour ley shall be restricted to the least possible rot' which are used.

l5 dimensions; there is a. factor ot shipping Fig. i is an end elevation thereof.

space to be observed in order that the con- Fig. 5 is a plan of said truck member', and struction shall be capable ot shipment With- Fig. (5 is a. iragmentary vertical section in the maxim-um dimensions allowed in cars taken substantially on the plane of line 6-6, 70 in shipment and that the parts which may ot Fig. 5 looking in the direction indicated 2o be removed 'from the assembly for shipment by the arrows.

can be readily attached in the field Without Like reference characters refer to like the necessity ot employing highly skilled parts in the ditferentfigures of the drawings. labor and, preferably, that no riveted con- The trolley, in cranes of this character, is nection of parts shall have to take. place in designed to move on and over a bridge, the 2a the field owing to the practical impossibility girde-rs of Whichare shown at 10, said girdo't' doing as good Work or producing as ers carrying tracks or rails 11 upon which strong a structure Where iield riveting has the trolley, indicated as a Whole by characto be done. And at the same time a maXiter 12, is mounted for travel. As shown, the mum roller path tor the turn-table is very trolley is divided into upper and lower secdesirable. All this has to be done and the tions 13 and 14, the former being rotatably construction made economically in order to mounted on the latter to turn about avertiinake the same at a cost Where it can .comcal axis. This mounting for rotation is acpete with others and be sold. complished by means ot rollers 15 on the 85 My invention has for its primary .object lower member or section 14 against Which and purpose, the production of a turn-table a circular track 1G on the upper section bears. trolley construction for cranes wherein all The rollers 15 may be mounted on short otl the above desirable Jfeatures are attained, shafts 15- vsupported by brackets at the corthe structure being compact, occupying` very ners of the lower section 14 Which is inthe 90 little head room, strong and at the same time shape of a rectangular Atrame. It is appar- 40 light and economical in the use oi materials ent, however, that the track and roller conin building, one which has a maximum roller struction can be reversed Without change in path With 'frame dimensions kept down to va mode of operation, and'that in eithercase a minimum and Within the dimensions allowed minimum alllOuDt- 0f 116ml 10O111 iS requl'ed, 95 for shipment, and this Without the necessity this design making the-construction occupy ot Held riveting in any part. Subsidiary to as little head room'as is possible. this principal object of the invention are The upper trolley member 13, or turnmany minor objects and purposes for the table carries the hoisting mechanism shown effective attainment ot' the ends noted, as in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2, including 100 Will appear' fully and in detail in the tollowhoist-ing drums 17 connected for driving by 50 ing description, taken in connection with t-he a motor 18 through suitable gearing 19. accompanyingdrawings, in which, The hoisting cables 20 are Wound o ver drums Fig. l is a plan View of the trolley con- 17 and upper and lower sheaves 2l and 22.

The upper sheaves 21 are mounted on an upper beam or girder 23 which may be rigidly attached to the upper section or frame 13, being rigidly built in connection therewith and attached to form a compound girder member. The lower sheaves arel carried on a movable beam 2e which is suspended from the upper beam 23 by the hoisting cables 20. The length of the upper beam 23 is greater than the diameter of the roller track thus providing an arrangement which gives a comparatively large spread to the sheaves 21 to increase the stabilit-y of the construction in its different hoisting and turning operations. The upper beam or girder 23 being rigidly attached to the turntablesection 18 rotates therewith at all times.

rThe under supporting section or member 14 of the trolley is of improved construction to cut down the head room required to a minimum, as well as the maximum dimensions to the extent that it can be received for shipment, while provided a maximum roller path, this permitting the construction of cranes of a high capacity and have the assembly of the parts requiring shop work all done in the shop where proper attention and inspection can be given, rather than in the ield with all of the disadvantages of field assembly, particularly in riveting together parts in a secure and strong connection which in the field cannot be done as well nor produce as good a structure as in the shops of the maimfacturer. The lower member 14 in its preferred form is made with longitudinal side sills 25 paralleling each other and like transverse sills 26 spaced apart and paralleling each other and located at right angles to the side sills 25, being connected to the side sills by suitable angle members or gussets such as used in structural work. The sills 25 and 2G may be made from I-beams. rthe transverse sills 26 at their end portions extend beyond the sills 25 to provide integral extensions 2T, there being four of such extensions on each of which a supporting truck 28 is to be mounted to support the trolley for morement on the tracks 11. rlhe member or s-ection 14 may be strengthened and reinforced by suitable plates 29 secured to the upper flanges of the sills25 and 2G, as shown in Fig. 1.

The operating parts of the crane mechanism are preferably supported on removable platforms carried by brackets, such as 30 and 31. The platform carried by brackets 30, for instance is designed to support the turn-table motor 32 and transmission gearing 33 for rotating the upper member 13, while motor 34e with its driving shaft 35, the latter being supported at its opposite extremities in bearings 36 in the truck frames 28, is carried on the other platform carried by brackets 81. The shaft 35 has driving gears 37 to drive two of the truck wheels.

The frames in which the truck wheels are i mounted are of like construction for the four frames used. As shown in Figs 3 to 6, inclusive, the truck frame 28 is a casting in which, between its ends an opening 3S is made through which the extension 2T of the sills 26 pass, the opening being formed to conform roughly to the shape of the sill extension 27. That is the opening at its upper portion has an upper enlargement 3l) to freely receive the upper flanges of the sill extension, below which the opening is narrowed for the passage of the web of the ei;- tension 27. rllhe lower part of the opening is enlarged downwardly so that the shape of said enlargement is substantially like an equilateral triangle. At the junction of the narrow vertical portion of the opening with the upper enlargement 39, closely spaced shoulders 4l() are formed extending transversely of the truck frame and positioned to contact with the under sides of the upper flanges of the extension 27 close to the web thereof. rlhe shoulders Lit) provide supportsI lthrough whichthe principal load stresses are trai'isini'tted between the trucl-z frames and the under section l-l of thc trolley. The construction described and mounting for the sill extensions 2T make a semi-pivotal flexibility of connection between the truck frames and the part .1x-l, at the same time one which is much more practical and duraablc in service and more economical to produce. Through this flexible connection, load stresses transmitted to the truck wheels il are equalized, said wheels being preferably spaced at equal distances from the sill ei;- tensions 2T on opposite sides thereof.

its before describe-l, the opening 38 in the truck frames extends entirely through to thc lower side of the truck frames, practically dividing each frame into two parts which are integrally connected at their upper portions by an upper compression chord 42. A separate lower tension chord 11:3 made from rolled steel plate underlies the lower iianges of the sill extension 2i', passing across and bridging the lower side of the opening' 38 and is secured to the truck frame at each side of the opening by bolts, as shown, said bolts being indicated at -l-l. lt is not necessary that the lower flanges of the sill extension 27 contact with the lower chord a3, as all of the load may be carried on the shoulders l0, but it is preferred that such contact shall take place. Bolts l5 are used to connect the truck frames 28 to the sill 1 extensions 27. rllhe sole function of said bolts l5 is to prevent creeping of the trollev frame member 14 on the truck frames due tc vibrations or other causes incident to the operation of the device. No load is carried on said bolts, and but one bolt is needed for each truck frame. This makes it easy to disconnect the truck frames from the sill extensions 27 on which they are mounted whenever desired, as for shipment.

The bearings etti in which the trucl; wheels il are mounted are located in angular recesses at opposite ends of the truck and the wheels 4l are accommodated and vhoused partly in the truck frames, the opposite ends thereof being provided with spaced walls t7 integrally connected at their upper edges thereby providing pockets for the reception of the wheels.

It is apparent that this truck construction is relatively inexpensive, being readily produced as a single. casting and having a truss construction in which the upper chord i2 takes the compression and the attached lower chord 43 the tension strains. The trucks are readily attached in the field, permitting them to be detached and shipped separate from the other structure.` The lower flanges of the sills of the lower section 14 of the trolley are located in a plane closely adjacent to the tops of the rails 1l, the head room required for the trolley being reduced to the lowest minimum possible. W ith the trucks 28 removed, and the platforms carried by brackets 30 and 31 likewise removed, it is a simple matter to strip the frame 14 for shipment but with no parts which cannot be easily attached when installation is to be. made and this without skilled labor. All of the riveted connection of parts is done in the factory, and all of the careful structural work done under factory supervision and inspection, the frame being given maximum dimensions within the limits prescribed' by transportation rules and regulations which could not be the case without this ready detachment of the truck frames. fill of the features which must be had to meet the Vdifferent conditions and problems arising in constructions of this character, as set forth in the general statement of the invention are incorporated in this construction, which is practical in every wav and has so proved in actual practice.

The invention is defined in the appended claims, and all forms of construction coming within their scope are to be considered as comprehended by the invention, the specific construction shown and described not to be considered in any sense as limiting the invention thereto but rather to be considered as diagrammatic and illustrative of the invention.

I claim:

l. A trolley frame construction including a frame provided with oppositely projecting extensions at opposed sides thereof, said extensions having upper and lower flanges and a connecting web, truck frames each formed as a truss with an opening transversely therethrough for the passage of one of said extensions, said truck frames being formed with shoulders to contact with the underl openings, and a member spanning the opening in each truck frame at the lower side thereof, below the lower flange'of the associated extension and connected to said truck frame. I

34A trolley frame construction including a frame provided with oppositely projecting extensions at opposed sides thereof, said extensions having upper and lower [langes and a connecting web, a truck frame for each extension comprising an integral truss member having` a transversel opening therethrough open at its under side through which the extension passes, a shoulder on the said truss member at each side of the opening contacting with the upper flange of the extension at each side of and adjacent the web thereof, and a tension member spanning said opening at its lower side, below the lower flange of the associated extension and connected to the truclr frame.

4. A trolley frame construction including a frame provided with oppositely extending bars of I-beam form at opposed sides thereof, truck frames formed with transverse openings therethrough for passing said bars, and supporting shoulders on the truck frames adjacent the openings therethrough contacting with the under sides of the upper iianges of said I-beam bars adjacent the webs thereof.

5. A trolley frame construction including a frame provided with oppositely extending bars of I-beain formation at opposed sides thereof, an integral cast metal truck framehaving a transverse openingl therethrough for the passage of said bar, a truck frame being mounted on each bar, supporting shoulders on each truck frame adjacent to said opening and contacting with the upper flange of each bar at each side of and adjacent the web of the bar, and a wrought metal tension member underlying the lower fiange of each of the bars and connected to each truck frame at opposite sides of the opening therein.

6. A trolley frame construction including a frame, truck supporting I-beams extending beyond the sides of the frame, each having a substantially vertical web, an integrally cast metal trussed truck frame for each I-beam having a transverse opening l'Ut) ill) for the passage of an I-beam, and supporting shoulders integrally cast with the truck frame disposed at opposite sides ot the opening` therethrough and contacting with the under side of the upper flange of the I- beam on which it is mounted adjacent to the web thereof.

7. A trolley frame construction including a frame, truck supporting -beams extendingI from opposed sides of the frame, each having a substai'itially vertical web, an integral cast metal trussed truck frame l'iaving a transverse opening therethrough mounted on each I-beani, said beams passing through the openings, supporting shoulders on each truck trame located at opposite sides of the opening and contacting with the under sides of the upper flange ot the associated I-beam close to the web thereof, said transverse opening in a truck frame extending` to the lower side of the trucl; trame, and a metal tension member underlying` the I-bcam associated with each truck iframe and secured to the truck frame at, opposite sides ot the opening.

8. In a trolley constriu-tiou, a trolley iframe member includingl a truck supporting beam, a trussed truck traint-s relcasably attached intermediate its ends to the beam, said truck trame having` an integral compression chord disposed above the supporting beam and a metal tension chord underyiug said beam and connected to the truck trame at opposite sides ot said beam. and 'truck wheels mounted on the truck Ytrame and dispose-d at opposite sides ot the beam.

9. In a trolley construction, a trolley trame member including a truck supporting` beam, a cast metal truck trame. having a medial t ansverse opening therethrough open at the bottom thereo'li, said supporting beam extending into said opening and resting directly on the truck frame, an integral compression chord included in the truck frame locate-d over the beam, and a metal tension chord underlying said beam and secured to the truck frame at opposite side-s of the opening. f

10. ln a trolley construction, a trolley frame member including a truck supporting beam, a trussed truck framel'conuected intermediate the ends thereof to said support.- ing beam, said truck trame having,` an integral compression chord located above the beam, and a metal tension chord underlying the beam and connected to the truck Jframe at opposite sides ol` the beam, and truck wheels mounted on the truck frame at opposite sides ot the supporting beam.

ll. ln a trolley construction, a trolley rtrame member including a truc-l; supporting beam, a truck trame having a transverse opening 'therethrough with a shoulder on the Ytraine located adjacent said opening, said beam having an upper flange and extending into said openii'ig with said flange bearingagainst the shoulder.

12. In a trolley construction, a trolley trame including a truck supporting beam, a truck frame, and a lug on said truck Aframe upon Vwhich .said supporting beam is Alleiribly supported.

l. ln a, trolley construction, a trolley 'trame including a truck supporting beam, a truck trame having au opening into which said beam extends, and a lug on the Atruck trame adjacent said opening trom which the beam is suspended.

lil, In a trolley construction, a trolley trame including a truck supporting beam, a trussed truck frame having an opening between upper and lower chords of the truss into which the beam extends, and a lug disposed between said upper and lower chords on which the beam rests.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE EDWARD MOORE. 

